Lubricating device.



O. H. L. WERNICKE.

LUBRICATI'NG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 113.12, 1912.

.Patented sept.. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ll Inventos www@ 0. H. L. WERNIOKE.

LUBRIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 12, 1912.

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.ri-iran ormonio'rro Ii. L. Wnantonin, or @nenn narr'ns, MICHIGAN.

Specileation of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 3, 19112.

appucaun inea February 12, 191e'. serial No. erf/,067.

To all 'whom t may concern.' y

Be it known that I, OTTO H. L. lVnn- NICKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Devices, ofwhich vthe following is a specilication. l

My present 4invention relates to lubricating`devices for' crank shafts, and its object is to provide an improveddevice of that character for the lubrication of shafts which have a plurality of cranks and are subjected to change of plhsition in the shafts axial plane. While in inotion, as are ythe engine shafts of automobiles; and especially such shafts as are axially inclined from the hori-. zontal.` This object is attained by, andiny invention finds a preferable embodiment in, the structure hereinafter described, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of la struc'- ture embodying' my invention, taken on the line of-'the a'Xis of the shaft; Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on a line correspending to line 2*2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section (enlarged) ofone of the valves taken on line 3-3 of Fig.. 1 andcorresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4: is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig..3.

The drawings exhibit my invention as applied to an automobile having a common form engine Whose four cylinders (their upper portions broken away) are indicated at l, and having pistons 2, 3, 4- and 5, operating respectively on the crank-pins 6 of the engine shaft 7, which has bearings 8 on a suitable crank-shaft casing 9, Whose lower portion 10 contains lubricating oil indicated Suitable partitions 12 form separate oil-cellars 13 (four in the construction shown), being one oil-cellar for thecrank of each engine cylinder. A suitable valve,

as the ball-valve 14, controls an `oil passage 15 through each partition 12, and is arfyranged to permit the opening of such passage when `the machine* is in level position (i. e., when the automobile is von level ground), and to automatically close such passage `when the machine is inclined, in the axial direction of the shaft, from the horizontal e., when the automobile is travel- ,y

ing up or down hill). This closing operation of each valve 14- is effected by gravity acting on the valve ball which rolls and seats itself at the lower one of its two seats 18 when the automobile is going up or down grade, thus closing the passage. The vibra-. tion resulting from .the running .of the motor or the jolting of the moving machine unseats the valve when the machine is in level position, thus opening the passage. Itwill b e seen that by this construction and arrangement the'oil is prevented from flowing away from anycrank, that is, out of any oil-cellar l3*and that any dilferencewhich 'may exist in level of the oil in the several4 oil-cellars is rectified when the automobile is on level ground. It will be seen also, that, even, though no valve 14e is employed, the passage 15, It' not teo large, will retard the flow of oil when the vehicle is going upl or down grade, and will also permitthe oil to attain the same level the road is level.

Though the crank-shaft is axially inclined, from the horizontal,' as' the automobile `crank-shaft shown, the oil in the oil-cellar in my device is nevertheless approximately level; and the oil-splashers 19 (which strike the oil and splash it on the runningparts) for the cranks toward the higher end of the crank-shaft `are longer than such splashers inlall the cellars when sev for the cranks towardthe lowerend ofthe shaft, in order that their immersion in the oil of the cellar' or several cellars may be uniform. Suitable cocks Q0 controlling draining passages 21 from the oil-cellars may be provided as shown.

Not confining myself to the details of constructionA and arrangement Vshown and described, I claim- 1. In a device of the character' described; a crank-shaft axiallyfinclined from the horizontal and having /a plurality of cranks;. an oil-cellar below said crank shaft adapted to contain suitable Huid lubricant tforihe cranks; and splashers carried one in connection with cach crank and being so graduated as rto length that the splashers for the respective cranks when in motion contact at a v suitable depth with the lubricant.

2. In a device of the character described; a crank-shaft axially inclined from the horizontal and having a plurality of cranks; a plurality of oillcellars below said crank lshaft adapted to contain suitable1 fluid lubricant` for the cranks; and splashers carried one in connection with each crank and being so graduated as to length that the vSplashers for the respect-ive .cranks 'when in motion Contact 2at a suitable depth with the lubricant. l

zontal and having aplurality of cranks;

'a plurality pf oil-cellars, one for each crank,

below/ the' sha-ft,.adapted to contain suitable fluid lubricant forthe cranks, and having a contracted inter-communicating. passage whereby the lubricant in the several cellars may attain the .saine level; and splasliers carried one in connection with each crank fand being so graduated as to length that the splashers for the respective cranks whenv in n'iotiongaontact at a suitable depth with the lubricant; l." 4; In a device of the character lescrlbed;

i a crank-shaft axially inclined troni the hori- 20' a plurality of O'iLcellai's, one for each crank7 zontalan'd. having a plurality of cranks;

below the shaft, adapted to contain suitable l{lud lubricant for the cranks; and having;

an inter-communicating passagev whereby the lubricant inthe several cellars may attain the lsaine level; a. gravitymperated Valve controlling' said passage and splashers carried one in connection with each crank and being so graduated as to length that the splashers f or the respective ci'anks'when in `motion contact at a Suitable depth withthe lubricant,

5. Ina device of' the character described7 a crank-shaft axially inclined from the horizontal and having -a plurality of cranks; a plurality of oil-cellars, one for each crank;

i 3. Ina device-of the'character described; a crank-shaft axially inclined from the horibelow the shaft; adapted 'to 'containsuitable fluid lubricant 'for the cranks; and having an inter-communicating passage whereby the lubricant in the several Ycellars may aitain the saine level; a valve controlling said passage and splashers carried one'in connection with each crank and being so graduated .as to lengt-h that the splashers -t'or therespective cranks when in motion 'Contact at a suitable depth with the lubricant.

G. In 'a device of the character describeh 'a crank-shaft having a plurality of cranks.; and a plurality of oilcellars,.one for -eacli crank, below the shaft, adapte/dpto contain suitable fluid lubricant for the cranks, and having an interfconnnluncating passage whereby the lubricant in the several cellars may attain. the saine level; and a gravityoperated valie controllinfr said passage.

7. In a device of the c iaraeter' described,-

a crank-shaft havinga plurality oit cranks;

and a plurality of oil-cellars, one'for each crank, below the shafnadapted to contain suitable fluid lubricant for the cranks,- and having an inter-cininnunicating passage whereby the lubricant in the severalcellars may attain the saine level; and a valve con.-

MARY S. Toonen, MARY SCHULTE; 

